It's Beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

We are getting ready for Christmas at the Callender House.  We put up the tree after Thanksgiving, and Caden has been obsessed with moving the ornaments around since.  All the breakable ornaments are 4 ft and higher...every other ornament on the lower half of the tree has been moved about 14 times each.  My perfect symmetry and balance has been Caden-ized. 

He also calls the Nittany Lion Ornament the "BEAR - GO PENN STATE". At least he recognized the lion head.

Grandma Callender came to visit for Thankgiving, and we got some photos the day before she left.  Please take note of the matching "Santa, I believe" PJ's that the kids are wearing.  Score one for Mommy for waiting in a half hour line to snag those at 3am on Black Friday.  :-)

Thanksgiving in Erie - Roadtrippin' with Mama

Robert and Becca had Thanksgiving at their new house this year!  Daddy was gone hunting for the weekend, so Mommy and the kids made the trip to Erie.  I think my words to Matt were..."It's only 6 hours - how bad could it be?"

Well, 6 hours turned into 8, but we made it there on Saturday evening in one piece.  Caden and Maddie saw Grandma and Grandpa Frank, Aunt Jen and Uncle DJ, and Uncle Robert and Aunt Becca.  They had a great time, and handled the 8 hour road trips on Saturday and Sunday well.  We made it home by late Sunday night and we were all very happy to see Daddy.  How did he get out of this adventure?  :-)

On Sunday morning, Robert (our professional photographer uncle) took Caden and Maddie to Presque Isle in Erie to get some great shots.  Here are a few that I took (not quite as professional as Robert's)

At Thanksgiving Dinner on Sunday, Maddie tried mashed potatoes for the first time.  Not a fan.

Maddie and Uncle Robert!

Maddie and Aunt Jen!

Grandpa and Grandma Frank with Maddie. 

Why wasn't Caden in any of the above pictures with the fam?

He was busy being a monster....

Thank you Robert and Becca for a wonderful Thanksgiving with the family!  We had a great time!!

Halloween Pictures

Caden was Buzz Lightyear (after much coaxing and bribing with candy)....and Maddie was a ladybug - she didn't put up much of a protest.  

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 Pumpkin carving was a hit...

Caden and Jackson showing off the pumpkins they carved for Halloween

 

After Pumpkin carving, we made rice crispy treats...with frosting...

 

Caden-isms

I have to write this stuff down before I forget and he doesn't say it anymore!!

"Hi Mommy!  I'm Awake!"  - What he says when he wakes up in the morning and comes into our room, or when he comes back downstairs after he goes to bed, or when he wakes up from nap.

"WAIT! WAIT! (With his arms spread wide)  LISTEN TO ME" - He says this at the dinner table when Matt and I aren't paying enough attention to him.

"Mommy!  I want JUUUUUICE!  Please!"

"Run, Java, Run!!" - He yells this as he is chasing poor Java around our house with his bike.

"Noooo - I want to sleep in Mommy-Daddy Bed" - This is what he proclaims at 5am some mornings when I tell him it is too early to get up.

Mom:  I love you Caden!
Caden: No, you not!
Mom: Yes, I do!
Caden: No, You love Daddy, I love Di Di (his blanket)
Mom: Who does Maddie love?
Caden: Maddie is sleeping!

"Mommy!  Maddie CRYIN!" - When Maddie is crying...usually I'm holding her, so I call him Captain Obvious.